Gulf Islands
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The Gulf Islands is the name collectively given to the islands in the Strait of Georgia between Vancouver Island and the mainland Pacific coast of British Columbia, Canada.
The name "Gulf Islands" comes from a historical misnomer for the Strait, the Gulf of Georgia.
The Gulf Islands are usually divided into two groups, the southern and northern Gulf Islands. The dividing line is approximately that formed by the city of Nanaimo, British Columbia on Vancouver Island, and the mouth of the Fraser River on the mainland.
Southern Gulf Islands
The southern Gulf Islands form part of an archipelago that stretches to the San Juan Islands in the United States.
The following are among the hundreds of islands and islets located in the Southern Gulf Islands:
The names of the major islands in alphabetical order are: Bowen Island, Gabriola Island, Galiano Island, Kuper Island, Mayne Island, North and South Pender Islands, Salt Spring Island, Saturna Island, Thetis Island, Valdes Island.
Canada's latest National Park - Gulf Islands National Park Reserve of Canada - was established in 2003 by Parks Canada to protect the area’s unique ecosystem, which is rich with ecologically diverse plants and sea-life including: gnarled Garry oaks, delicate wild lilies, thick kelp beds and magnificent Orca whales.
Northern Gulf Islands
The names of the separate islands in alphabetical order are:
Cortes Island, Denman Island, Hornby Island, Lasqueti Island, Quadra Island, Texada Island
External links
- The Gulf Islands Guide (http://www.gulfislandsguide.com)
- Pender Island (http://www.penderisland.info)
- Gulf Islands National Park (http://www.gulfislandsnationalpark.com)
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